The points of issue
Copyright page states 'First Edition: October 2010' with a full number line ending in 1; ISBN 978-0-316-03438-8; brown boards lettered in silver on cover and spine, octavo, with color and black-and-white photographs; first-printing jackets are not price-clipped. Published October 2010 by Little, Brown.
Is this the true first?
The US Little, Brown edition is the true first (October 2010); the British Weidenfeld & Nicolson edition is a separate UK first, not the US true first. Signed copies (bookplate or in-person) carry a premium, but signing is not a point of the trade first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions typically lack the 'First Edition: October 2010' statement and the number-line 1, may carry a blind-stamp on the rear board, and use lighter, cheaper boards.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Life a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page states 'First Edition: October 2010' with a full number line ending in 1; ISBN 978-0-316-03438-8; brown boards lettered in silver on cover and spine, octavo, with color and black-and-white photographs; first-printing jackets are not price-clipped. Published October 2010 by Little, Brown.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. The US Little, Brown edition is the true first (October 2010); the British Weidenfeld & Nicolson edition is a separate UK first, not the US true first. Signed copies (bookplate or in-person) carry a premium, but signing is not a point of the trade first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-club editions typically lack the 'First Edition: October 2010' statement and the number-line 1, may carry a blind-stamp on the rear board, and use lighter, cheaper boards.
I have a first edition of Life — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.